PECO LNER signals

[aleopardstail]

specifically set 486, which promises the ability to make four signals on the PECO website, and two on the box, but appears to mean two different ones as you only get one signal post of each size...

grrr.

had hoped to get a pair of Home, maybe a triplet out of this

also the instructions seem to date to the 1980s...

[Bigmet]

Or even before. Peco really are trying it on. These were too flimsy for practicality circa fifty years ago - cannot be precise as to date - but my long-ago dextrous fingers managed to get a passable job out of two kits, and they were all wrecked within a month of layout installation. End of signals.

Here's how to do it.
https://www.lner.info/forums/viewtopic. ... &start=435
Just scroll down page 30.

[aleopardstail]

lovely gantry, I think way too close to the tunnel entrances but nicely done

I'm pondering 3d printing them here, use the kit as a guide

[Bufferstop]

These are the Ratio kits which date way back, as you have discovered they are far to delicate for real use. (they can be made to demonstrate that they work but are too flimsy to be mechanically operated). I buy the old Hornby Dublo diecast signals, the posts of which are only slightly overscale. Once they have been completely dismantled cleaned up and rebuilt and repainted they cab be mechanised by any method, I favour purely mechanical push rods and angle cranks. They come with a square base about 5mm thick, so I cut into the board so that it gets lost in the ballast.

[Mountain]

Also as well as Hornby Dublo, try both Crescet signals and Trix Twin signals, though Crescent are the ones I like as can often be seen where people assume they are Hornby Dublo.

[Bufferstop]

Many of Crescent's models seem to be direct copies of the Hornby ones, with just minor changes. It always amazed me that they got away with it. I suspect Hornby's inability to meet demands meant they couldn't come the heavy when Crescent came out with their "me too" versions. If you want Region or company specific ones it's a case of applying some cosmetic trimming, I try to find a picture of one that fits my requirements and doctor what I can find to suit.

[Mountain]

Crescent are usually on larger gantries carrying far more signals. Where Hornby Dublo versions were either singles or double junction bracket type signals, Crescent did triple junction signals and they did a double masted gantry which I have examples of both. Crescent did make their signals to match the Hornby Dublo ones with the idea their signals would expand on what Hornby did so both compliamented each other. I think Hornby in those days actually liked what Crescent were doing as it encouraged their sales. Today companies see each other as rivals which as far as this hobby goes is not a good thing. (While I can see the excitement and fun of keeping a new model secret until the big reveal, so I am not knocking this and it can be the case that great minds think alike independently of each other, and I do not want to prevent that, but what gets me a bit if a company starts thinking it "Owns" its customers and a competitor is robbing them of "Their profit!" What a STUPID thing to think! It is up to thecustomers where they want to spend their money! (I have seen this attitude taking place with retailers and I stay well away from any retailer who thinks this, but I have also seen it with companies as well and it is an attitude that stinks!)

Direct copies are fair enough that it is not a good thing to do. Of course someone would be upset if it is a direct copy UNLESS one has had permission. We do not know as it may have been the case that Crescent actually made Honby Dublo signals for them and just stamped the HD brand for them underneath?
In those days there was a lot more of companies working together and helping each other survive.

[stuartp]

lovely gantry, I think way too close to the tunnel entrances but nicely done

It's a model of a real location, the signals are underhung so as to be visible to the driver of a train approaching through the tunnel. There's a photo of the real ones a couple of pages back.

The Peco ex-Ratio kits are OK as placeholders and can be made to work but they are fragile and very vulnerable. The LNER ones additionally suffer from the posts being moulded in two parts to represent lattice posts, which they don't do very well imo. I've got a box in the stash somewhere, I'll photograph the contents tomorrow so you can see how many of what you get.

If you want accurate LNER signals the only commercially available alternative is soldering up MSE brass bits.

[aleopardstail]

yes the lattice posts are a bit naff, ok front and back, rubbish from the sides.

me and metal kits don't get on so will have to print them

and yes aware that layout is a real location, something reality looks very unreal though

especially given the smoke filled nature of tunnels and the lighting contrast of bright sunlight or even just murky daylight as the backdrop, must have been a pain to see clearly